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Adam Makkai

[dot the i’s and cross the t’s]{v. phr.} To be careful, thorough, and pay close attention to detail. •/"The best way to get an A on the final exam," the teacher said, "is for every one to dot the i’s and cross the t’s."/ Compare: MIND ONE’S P’S AND Q’S.

[double back]{v.} 1. To turn back on one’s way or course. •/The escaped prisoner doubled back on his tracks./ 2. To fold over; usually in the middle. •/The teacher told Johnny to double back the sheet of paper and tear it in half./

[double check]{n.} A careful second check to be sure that something is right; a careful look for errors. •/The policeman made a double check on the doors in the shopping area./

[double-check]{v.} 1. To do a double check on; look at again very carefully. •/When the last typing of his book was finished, the author double-checked it./ 2. To make a double check; look carefully at something. •/The proofreader double-checks against errors./

[double-cross]{v.} To promise one thing and deliver another; to deceive. •/The lawyer double-crossed the inventor by manufacturing the gadget instead of fulfilling his promise to arrange a patent for his client./ Compare: SELL DOWN THE RIVER, TWO-TIME.

[double date]{n.}, {informal} A date on which two couples go together. •/John and Nancy went with Mary and Bill on a double date./

[double-date]{v.}, {informal} To go on a double date; date with another couple. •/John and Nancy and Mary and Bill double-date./

[double duty]{n.} Two uses or jobs; two purposes or duties. •/Matthew does double duty. He’s the janitor in the morning and gardener in the afternoon./ •/Our new washer does double duty; it washes the clothes and also dries them./

[double-header]{n.} Two games or contests played one right after the other, between the same two teams or two different pairs of teams. •/The Yankees and the Dodgers played a double-header Sunday afternoon./ •/We went to a basketball double-header at Madison Square Garden and saw Seton Hall play St. John’s and N.Y.U. play Notre Dame./

[double nickel]{adv.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} The nationally enforced speed limit on some highways — 55 MPH. •/We’d better go double nickel on this stretch, partner; there’s a bear in the air./

[double-park]{v.} To park a car beside another car which is at the curb. •/Jimmy’s father double-parked his car and the police gave him a ticket./ •/If you double-park, you block other cars from passing./

[double-talk]{n.} 1. Something said that is worded, either on purpose or by accident, so that it may be understood in two or more different ways. •/The politician avoided the question with double-talk./ 2. Something said that does not make sense; mixed up talk or writing; nonsense. •/The man’s explanation of the new tax bill was just a lot of double-talk./

[double up]{v.} 1. To bend far over forward. •/Jim was hit by the baseball and doubled up with pain./ 2. To share a room, bed, or home with another. •/When relatives came for a visit, Ann had to double up with her sister./